Kyrie Irving is the Closest Thing to Kobe Bryant in the NBA

Kyrie Irving dropped a career-high 57 points two nights ago to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 128-125 overtime win against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Yes you read that correctly. Kyrie Irving, not LeBron James, led the way to a Cavaliers victory with a monster performance.

The 22-year-old point guard who played just 11 games at Duke, and is only in his fourth season in the league torched the world champion Spurs for the most points by a single player in the Greg Popovich era. Whether you hate or love the Cavaliers, you can't help but be in awe of Irving's performance last night. He knocked down 20 of 32 field goal attempts, all seven 3-point shots, and all 10 free throw attempts while being guarded by just about every member of the Spurs roster. He showed no shyness or lack of confidence, expecting the ball on every possession, and was never hesitant or indecisive.



With Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant out for the season due to a torn right rotator cuff, the NBA has been looking for someone to emulate his cold-blooded killer instinct night after night. James Harden and Russell Westbrook come to mind, and even Bryant himself has said that the latter plays angry like he did when he was younger.

But there is something about Irving that just seems comparable to the future Hall-of-Famer. The 22-year-old is even the first player since, you guessed it, Bryant, to have multiple 55-point games in a season. He also credited Bryant with helping him with contested shots, stating that he "Learned from Kobe to just point his elbow at the rim and let the ball go."

Irving's performance mirrors that of one Bryant had back in 2007, when he scored 65 points to lead the Lakers to a 116-111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. The "Black Mamba" tallied 31 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, hitting ridiculous shot after ridiculous to will his team to a win, much like Irving did last night.



Irving also has the competitiveness and swagger that fans love about Bryant, as evidence by their exchange before the 2012 Olympics. The then reigning Rookie of the Year came up to a man who had won back-to-back titles just two years earlier and challenged him to a game of one-on-one. This wasn't a joke or false challenge. Irving stated that Bryant would have to guard him and continued, saying "You would not lock me up." He refused to back down when the elder statesmen told him it wasn't a good idea, even offering up 50,000 dollars to the winner's charity to sweeten the pot.



One thing is clear- Kyrie Irving is a bad man, and is only getting better. No, I am not saying that he is a top-five player in the league or some amazing God of basketball. Rather, his intangibles and desire to win rival that of a legend like Bryant. Irving will get his first taste of the playoffs come April, and that will be his biggest test. The 36-year-old has five NBA titles, and has had many big games in the postseason.

LeBron James will not be able to carry the team on his own when the Cavs run up against opponents like the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks. It will be on Irving to prove his true value when it matters most. If he can put up 57 points against one of the best defensive teams in the league, anything is possible. It's time to sit back, relax and get your popcorn ready.

Is Kyrie Irving the player most like Kobe Bryant in the NBA today?
If not, who do you think is? Comment below.

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats/facts courtesy of ESPN/Basketball Reference 

*Quotes courtesy of: https://twitter.com/EthanJSkolnick 

Nightly Recap- Jan. 15

Top Performances 

James Harden (Houston SG)- Recorded 31 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in a 112-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Harden absolutely took over Thursday night, as he hit 9 of 15 shot attempts, including six 3-pointers. He continues to put up all kinds of numbers, and is leading Houston to big wins each and every night.

Source

LeBron James (Cleveland SF)- Scored 36 points and hit four 3-pointers in a 109-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. James had his second strong game in a row, as Cleveland snapped their five-game losing streak. With Kevin Love battling back spasms, and Kyrie's inconsistent play, James will be counted on more than ever to carry the load for his hometown team as they push to get back into playoff contention.

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Finished with 19 points, 17 assists and seven rebounds in a 109-102 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a career-high in assists for Bryant, who continues to distribute the ball at a high rate, as he has dished out seven or more assists in six of his last seven games.

Source

Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City SF)- Tallied 24 points and 10 rebounds in a 112-101 loss to the Houston Rockets. It was a quiet double-double for Durant, who only took 12 shots (8-12 FG) in the loss. However, he continues to score at an efficient rate for the Thunder, and It is safe to say he is back to 100% heading forward.

Play of the Night

Houston Rockets' guard James Harden showcased his speed and athleticism by splitting the Thunder defense for the slam dunk Thursday night. Harden cut in between Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka before throwing down a left-handed slam in a 112-101 win for the Rockets.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdsrhHA0fV0

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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*All stats courtesy of ESPN

Nightly Recap- Jan. 4

Top Performances

Brandon Jennings (Detroit PG)- Scored 35 points on 14 of 21 shooting from the floor in a 114-95 win over the Sacramento Kings. Jennings has flourished since Josh Smith was released from the team, as he has shot 50% or higher in four of his last five contests. It was also the second time that the young point guard has hit five 3-pointers in a game in the last week and a half.

Source

Kevin Love (Cleveland PF/C)- Tallied 30 points and 10 rebounds in a 109-90 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Love took over as the number one option when Kyrie Irving went down midway through the game, and looked like his old self. He will continue to score more with LeBron and Irving banged up for the foreseeable future.

Source

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Recorded 20 points, six assists and six rebounds in an 88-87 win over the Indiana Pacers. Bryant had an efficient night, hitting 7 of his 14 shots, including all four foul shots he took. He also hit the game-winning hook shot over Solomon hill with less than 13 seconds to play in the game. It was Bryant's fifth game out of his last six in which he has had six or more assists, and his minutes restriction seems to be paying off for now.

Link- https://twitter.com/NBA2KGames/status/551966402333376514 

Play of the Night

Phoenix Suns' guard Archie Goodwin soared for a poster dunk over Toronto Raptors' center Jonas Valanciunas on Sunday night. Goodwin received the pass on the fast break and proceeded to fly over the young center for the slam. The Suns would go on to win the game 125-109, with Goodwin finishing the game scoring 12 points.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLddou1HILQ

2014-15 NBA Standings 

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Daily Recap- Dec. 30

Top Performances

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Recorded his second triple-double of the season, scoring 23 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists in a 111-103 win over the Denver Nuggets. While his nine turnovers were too high, Bryant's efficiency and distributing was instrumental in the Lakers' win. He's averaging 16.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists  over his last four games.

Source

Jodie Meeks (Detroit SG)- Hit nine 3-pointers and scored a season-high 34 points in a 109-86 win over the Orlando Magic. Meeks caught fire last night, hitting six 3's and scoring 20 points alone in the second quarter. He has scored in double-digits in Detroit's last four games, with three of them resulting in wins.

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Andre Drummond (Detroit C)- Grabbed 22 rebounds and chipped in 17 points in the Pistons' win over the Magic. Drummond has been a dominant force down low since the departure of Josh Smith, and looks primed to repeat last seasons' performance.

Source

Mike Conley (Memphis PG)- Scored 30 points on 10-13 shooting in a 95-87 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Conley did everything for the Grizzlies on Tuesday, as he tallied seven rebounds, six assists and four made 3-pointers. The Ohio State product has scored over 20 points in four of his last six games, and has hit 14 3-pointers in the last four contests.

Source

Plays of the Night

Via ESPN, Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant became the third player in NBA history to recorded multiple triple-doubles in a season at age 36 or older. Below is a recap of his historic night.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qww2QCE4I0U

TOP 10

Below are the top ten plays of last night, via the NBA's YouTube channel, featuring Rajon Rondo, Jeff Teague and more.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuPTAFvlLzM

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Nov 14

Who Was Hot

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Passed Michael Jordan for third on the all-tine scoring list in a 100-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bryant recorded 26 points and six assists in the win, and passed Jordan with two free throws in the second quarter. It was the third straight win for the Lakers, who are now 8-16 on the season.

Source

Stephen Curry (Golden State PG)- Tallied 34 points to go along with seven assists and seven rebounds in a 128-122 overtime win against the New Orleans Pelicans. Curry has had recorded over 20 points and seven assists in four straight games, and is fueling the Warriors' blazing hot start this season.

Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio SF)- Stuffed the stat sheet in a 99-91 win over the Denver Nuggets. Leonard finished the game with 18 points, eight rebounds, six blocks, five steals and four assists in the victory. It was truly an all-around game for the young emerging star in San Antonio. Leonard continues to grow, and is taking on more responsibilities with the Spurs' offense.

Source

Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City PG)- Scored 28 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out eight assists in a 112-88 win over the Phoenix Suns. Westbrook continues to shine since his return from a broken hand, and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Play of the Night

Bryant passed Michael Jordan for third most points in NBA history with two free throws on Sunday night. It was a momentous occasion, as Bryant has been so often compared to Jordan in all aspects of the game. The Lakers' shooting guard now sits with 32,310 total points.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Rz0TSprFc

2014-15 NBA Standings

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Daily Recap- Nov. 7

Who Was Hot

Jon Leuer (Memphis PF)- Scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 103-87 win over the Miami Heat. It was Leuer's highest scoring and rebounding totals of the season, as the Grizzlies played a terrific all-around game agains the Heat. Memphis shot 59% from the field, 62% from 3-pt range and 82% from the foul line in the win.

Source

John Wall (Washington PG)- Flirted with a triple-double, scoring 17 points, dishing out 14 assists and tallying eight rebounds in a loss to the Celtics. Wall put up a great game against Boston point guard Rajon Rondo, but did not get a ton of help from his supporting cast.

Rajon Rondo (Boston PG)- Recorded a triple-double (13 pts, 13 reb and 11 ast) in a 101-93 win over the Washington Wizards. Rondo had handed out double-digit assists in four of his past five games, and continues to impress in all statistical categories.

Wilson Chandler (Denver SF)- Tallied 29 points and 10 rebounds in a 96-84 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Chandler scored 20 or more points for the second consecutive game, and pulled down 10 rebounds for the second time in three games. He continues to grow on both ends of the floor, and is a big reason for the Nuggets' early season success.

Source

Who Was Not

Bradley Beal (Washington SG)- Hit only 4 of 18 shots in a loss to the Celtics on Sunday. It was the second lowest scoring output for Beal this season, but should only be considered a bump in the road for the skilled sharpshooter.

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Struggled from the field, shooting 6 of 18 (14 points) in a 104-87 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans Bryant had a quiet scoring game, as the Lakers fell behind early and never recovered.

Play of the Night

Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook threw down a monstrous dunk in a 96-94 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Westbrook has played well in all facets of the game this season, and continues to be one of the most athletic guards in game.

Link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjT9c5168iA

Daily Recap- Nov. 30

Who Was Hot

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Posted his first triple-double of the season (31 pts, 12 ast, 11 reb) in a 129-122 OT win against the Toronto Raptors. It was Bryant's 20th of his career, as he became the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double (36 years, 99 days).

Source

LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland PF)- Dominated Minnesota to the tune of 26 points and 15 rebounds in a 107-93 win on Sunday night. Aldridge recorded his fifth straight double-double, with Portland winning four of those five games.

Pau Gasol (Chicago PF/C)- Tallied 25 points and 13 rebounds in a 102-84 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Gasol continues to put up strong numbers for the Bulls, and has recorded three straight double-doubles.

Source

Reggie Evans (Sacramento PF)- Posted season highs in points (17) and rebounds (20) in a 97-85 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Evans played 35 minutes in the loss, and besides being a savage on the boards, he was able to put up a rare scoring output in double-digits.

Who Was Not

Joe Johnson (Brooklyn SG)- Scored only three points on 1-7 shooting in Brooklyn's loss to Chicago on Sunday. Johnson was quiet compared to his 16.9 points per game average, but should be back to his normal self by next game.

Iman Shumpert (New York SG)- Shot 3 of 13 from the field, tallying only six points in an 86-79 loss to the Miami Heat. Shumpert's scoring has been down lately, as he has only put up double-digits once in the Knicks' last six games.

Play of the Night

Gerald Green showcased his athleticism once again, throwing throwing the ball to himself off of the backboard and slamming it home in a 93-90 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday night.

Daily Recap- Nov. 18.

Who Was Hot

Alec Burks (Utah SG)- Scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 98-81 win over the New York Knicks. Burks shot 5-8 from the field, 8-9 from the foul line, and blocked two shots in the contest.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/6429.png&w=350&h=254 

Paul Millsap (Atlanta PF)- Scored 29 points on11-16 shooting in a 114-109 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Millsap also recorded four steals and two blocked shots in the contest.

Iman Shumpert (New York SG/SF)- Had an all-around game of 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 106-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento PF/C)- Had a monster game (24 pts, 17 reb) in the King's 106-100 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Tallied 28 points on 10-18 shooting in the Lakers' 114-109 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Bryant reached 32,000 points for his career (32,001 total) in Tuesday's contest, and is 292 away from passing Michael Jordan for third most all-time.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/110.png&w=350&h=254 

Who Was Not

Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City PF)- Shot 2-13 from the field, scoring only six points in the Thunder's loss to Utah on Tuesday.

J.R. Smith (New York SG)- Scored only nine points on 3-12 shooting in the Knicks loss to the Bucks on Tuesday. It was a drop-off night for Smith, who had scored 28 points in the Knicks' previous contest.

Kyle Korver (Atlanta SG/SF)- Scored only eight points on 2-6 shooting in a 114-109 loss to the Lakers. Korver has been very quiet the past two games after a hot start, so it will be interesting to see how he plays moving forward.

Play of the Night

Kobe Bryant's fadeaway jumper with just over a minute to play gave him 32,000 points for his career. With his scoring continuing to be strong, Bryant should pass Michael Jordan sometime before Christmas.

Daily Recap- Nov. 16.

Who Was Hot

Stephen Curry (Golden State PG)- Scored 30 points and dished out 15 assists in a 128-99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday night. Curry shot 10-19 from the field, hitting five three-pointers in the blowout.

Source- http://cdn.blackenterprise.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2013/10/GSW_Curry_Stephen.jpg 

Marreese Speights (Golden State PF)- Scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Golden State's win over the Lakers. Speights was uber-effecient (8-11 FG, 8-8 FT's), and his energy off the bench sparked the Warriors for most of the game.

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles SG)- Scored a season-high 44 points (15-34 FG) in a loss to Golden State. Bryant was shooting early and often, showing the critics he still has what it takes to light it up, since L.A. has no true second scoring option.

Source- http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/headshots/nba/players/full/110.png&w=350&h=254 

Carmelo Anthony (New York SF/PF)- Scored 28 points and tallied nine rebounds in a 109-93 win over the Denver Nuggets. Melo had his third straight efficient game (10-16 FG), and will need to continue this going forward if the Knicks are to have any hope of making the playoffs.

Who Was Not

Anthony Morrow (Oklahoma City SG)- Struggled shooting (1-9 FG) in a 69-65 loss to the Houston Rockets. There must have been something in the air, because both teams failed to shoot over 30% as a team, so Morrow can be cut some slack for an off night.

Dwight Howard (Houston C)- Howard not only struggled from the floor (4-12 FG), but also hit only 4-13 free throws in Houston's win. He grabbed nine rebounds, but committed four turnovers in what was probably the worst game in the NBA this season.

Carlos Boozer (Los Angeles PF)- Scored only six points on 3-13 shooting in L.A.'s loss to the Golden State Sunday. It marked the first time in six games that Boozer failed to score in double-digits.

Daily Recap- Oct. 29th

Who Was Hot

Rajon Rondo- The Boston Celtic's point guard surprisingly started the first game of the season, and dropped 13 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in a 121-105 blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets. For the C's to have any chance at success this year, Rondo must control the tempo on offense and lead the team on defense.

Brandon Knight- Even though he struggled from the field (5-17 field goals), and the Bucks lost 108-106, Knight showcased high potential. He finished with 22 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds, proving to head coach Jason Kidd that he is capable of leading this young team.

Chris Bosh- No LeBron? No problem. The Georgia Tech product looked like he did in his Toronto Raptors days, scoring 26 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in a 107-95 win over the Washington Wizards. Bosh hit three three-pointers and dished out four assists, and looks to be the number option going forward for the Heat.

Memphis Big Men- Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph combined to shoot 24-33 from the field and pull down a combined 22 rebounds in a 105-101 Grizzlies win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. If the duo can consistently put up close to double-doubles on a nightly basis, the Memphis Grizzlies will have a good chance to contend for a top six seed in the Western Conference.

Source- http://www.memphisconnect.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/grizz-5.jpg 

Who Was Not

Los Angeles Lakers- Back-to-back nights the Lakers have come out and looked clueless on both ends of the ball, as the Phoenix Suns dominated them 119-99. Kobe Bryant posted a game-high 31 points, but looked frustrated throughout the game, receiving a technical foul after he believed he was fouled. It's early, but the Lakers look like a lottery team already.

Bryant scored 31 points, but failed to get any help from his teammates. Source- http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_article_large/public/2013/04/13/bryant_lakers_.jpg?itok=UKT4CMy2 

Perry Jones III- Given a chance to play big minutes due to Kevin Durant's injury, the small forward from Baylor shot 1-9 from the field in 31 minutes of play in a 106-89 loss to the Portland TrailBlazers. Chalk it up to nerves and playing against a stingy Portland defense, but Jones will need to contribute more on both ends of the floor for the Thunder to post a winning record during Durant's absence.

Ben McLemore- The second-year guard was supposed to have an improved jumper coming into the season. Instead, McLemore posted a stat line of 0-5 from the field, two rebounds, two turnovers and one assist in 26 minutes Wednesday. In order for Sacramento to have a shot at the playoffs, he will have to prove he can be a viable third scoring option behind DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay.

Stat of the Night- The Hornets came back from 24 points down to beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, making it the largest comeback in Charlotte's history.

All stats and info courtesy of espn.com
Follow me on Twitter @Lower_Merion33

Daily Recap- Oct. 28th

Who Was Hot

Anthony Davis/Omer Asik- It doesn't matter that he played the Magic. Anthony Davis would've dominated any team, and looks primed for another spectacular season. Posting 26 points, 17 rebounds and nine (yes nine) blocks in the the Pelican's 101-84 win. Davis looked dominant on both tends of the floor, showcasing his athleticism anytime he wanted to. Asik on the other hand, posted 14 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks, proving that he can be a defensive anchor alongside his young teammate. The duo should be worth keeping an eye on, as the Pelican's defense will lead them to the postseason.

San Antonio Offense- Even though they only scored 101 points and defeated the Dallas Mavericks by a point, the Spurs offense looked like it did in the NBA Finals last year. Yes they committed 20 turnovers, but they shot 53% from the field, 50% from three point range and 81% from the foul line as a team. Five players scored in double figures, led by 23 points on 9-15 shooting (4-4 3pt) from Tony Parker. Even without Patty Mills and Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs looked comfortable and should post another 50-win season.

Source- Getty images/Bleacherreport

Who Was Not

Chandler Parsons- The Dallas Mavericks' big free agent acquisition failed to live up to his big contract Tuesday night, scoring only five points on 2-10 shooting in 34 minutes. For Dallas to be successful and grab a high seed in a tough Western Conference this year, Parsons will need to be a legitimate third scoring option. For now, I'll chalk it up to nerves and a good Spurs' defense.

Los Angeles Lakers- The return of Kobe Bryant was supposed to revive the Lakers and give them the extra boost they needed. For the most part, #24 looked good. His athleticism, speed and shot selection looked respectable, and he showed no ill effects of two major surgeries in the last two years. The rest of his team however, was a different story. Turnovers, silly fouls, and no perimeter shooting plagued L.A. most of the night as they shot 35% from the floor. Oh, and rookie Julius Randle broke his right tibia, and will most likely miss the rest of the season. Oh, and Bryant took an elbow (or two) from former teammate Dwight Howard, and then the two exchanged heated words for a minute or two, drawing technical fouls. The Laker's superstar is playing with subpar teammates to begin with, and will now have to do even more work than anticipated.

Stat of the Night- The Spurs have now won all of their openers when coming off of a championship (5-0).

All stats and info courtesy of espn.com
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Bryant and Rose Set to Return Amid Question Marks

Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose are arguably two of the biggest stars in the NBA. The former is one of the greatest players of all-time and a five time champion, while the latter is youngest MVP in league history. Both are coming off of multiple serious injuries, and will be closely watched as the 2014-15 season begins.

Bryant suffered a torn achilles in the Spring of 2013, days before the playoffs were set to begin. He spent the entire offseason rushing a recovery only to injure his right knee after only playing six games in the 2013-14 season. 

Rose tore his ACL in the 2012 NBA playoffs, and then missed the entire 2012-13 NBA season. He returned for the 2013-14 season, but tore his meniscus only a few weeks into the season, and would not play again for the rest of the year.

Both players have stated that they are fully healthy and have experienced no setbacks. Bryant has averaged 19 points per game throughout the preseason, while Rose has averaged 17.5 points per game.

In order for their respective teams to compete for playoff spots this season, the two all-stars must be fully healthy and play at a high level. Only time will tell if this will happen. Stay tuned for more updates.

Click HERE for all news surrounding Bryant and the Lakers

Click HERE for all news surrounding Rose and the Bulls

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